Explosive



Patented May 21, 1929.

UNI E STATES cmnns OSCAR BLACK, or imw CASTLE, AND WILLIAM ALLAN- MOORE, or NEW PAT NT ol FIcgE.

WILMINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO E. I.

DU PONT DE NEMIOURS & COMPANY, TION OF DELAWARE.

OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing.

..mites, gelatin dynamites, permissible explosives, etc., typically comprise a liquid explosive component, such as nltroglycerine, nitroglycol, nitropolyglycerine, etc., an oxygen carrier, and a solid component comprising an absorbent material and a carbonaceous combustible material which generally are in part at least the same substance, such as wood pulp, wood flour, bran, corn meal, etc. It

- is essential'in such compositions that no exudation, i. e., voluntary separation of the liquid component from the solid component occurs since exudation gives rise to a danger-. ous condition.

Since, as indicated, a suflicient quantity of absorbing material must be used-to prevent exudation and since the absorbing material ordinarily is also a carbonaceous combustible material, the quantity of which in the ex plosive composition influences the characteristics of the explosive and since the character of the absorbing material also influences the physical and ballistic characteristics of the explosive, for instance, its density'which ordinarily is expressed by the number of cartridges of a standard size per fifty pounds of weight," its sensitiveness to propagation, its rate of detonation, etc., the character of the absorbing material used is an important factor in determining the properties of the explosive. The amount of carbonaceous combustible material in the explosive is a determiningfactor in controlling the quantity of poisonous gas, principallycarbon monoxid, produced by the explosive, this being an im- 'portant consideration, particularly with reference to explosives such as gelatin dynamites, ammonia gelatin dynamites, permissible explosives, e'tc., used in close work, i. e., in tunnels and other places where ventilation ispoor or limited. Explosives for 'plosive Application filed July 18, 1927. serial no. 206,784.

close work typically comprise a liquid exsuch as nitroglycerine, an oxygen carrier, such as an alkali metal nitrate, i. e., sodium or ammonium nitrate, the carbonaceous combustible material comprising or consisting of the absorbent material and small amounts of other compounds usually added for particular purposes.

We have found that mosses-and particularly sphagnum moss have peculiar properties which adapt them for use as the absorbent material in the production of explosives, comprising a liquid explosive component, having exceedingly valuable properties. By the use of mosses as the absorbent material explosives of low density, good ballistic properties, low poisonous gas formation, and other valuable characteristics which will be pointed out more fully hereinafter,- may be produced;

The mosses exhibit an exceptionally favorable absorbing characteristic with respect to the liquid component of explosives. This may be explained by the fact. that the leaves of mosses usually consist of a single layer of cells and do not comprise the outer covering layer of cells containing cutin found on the leaves and other parts of plants of higher order. This outer cutin-containing layer of cells on other plants is practically waterproof, whereas mosses on account of their structure absorb liquids over their entire surfaces and consequently exhibit a high absorbing capacity. Explosives of the dynami'te type made by the use of mossesand particularly Sphagnum moss are distinguished yisable to dry them before use so as to reduce their water content to below about 5%, thou h good explosive compositions can also be 0 tained with mosses containing a higher percentage of moisture. l

The mosses may be used as theabsorbing material in explosive compositions, i. e., incorporated 1n the explosive compos t ons, by

erine, etc.

Sphagnum moss may be used in the production of the higher strength gelatins or the standard practice for the use of the wellknown absorbent materials which practice or procedure therefore need not be described. However, less of the moss than of any other known absorbent material is required and consequently an explosive composition of similar composition and density made by the use of moss in place of the commonly used absorbent materials will contain relatively less carbonaceous.combustible material and more oxygen. carrier and consequently will produce less poisonous gas. This property of ourexplosive compositions comprising moss as the absorbent is particularly valuable in explosives of the so-called gelatin or gelatin dynamite type used for close Work. These explosives usually contain nitrocellulose and are so constituted as to contain less combustible carbonaceous material than is possible in the case of nongelat-inous explosives.

We have also found that our novel absorbent materials can be used to produce dynamite explosives of lower density, and in this manner obtain a greater increasein the number of cartridges per case than has hitherto been possible by using the commonly known absorbents. The low density of these explosive compositions comprising mosses as the absorbent, adapts them for better distribution in the bore hole when used in min- .ing and quarrying. Moreover, we have found that the .mosses, and particularly sphagnummossfare less detrimental than the commonly used absorbents to the ballistic properties of the explosives, and that explosive compositions comprising mosses as the absorbent are less liable than explosives comprising the'commonly used absorbents to depreciate under storage. The mosses are capable of use in all classes of high explosives containing a liquid component, such as nitroglycerine, nitroglycol, nitropolyglycgelatin dynamites, forinstance, 75%, etc., explosive compositions which contain less'of the moss than the quantity of absorbing material hertofore required and at the same time ,with less likelihood of dangerous exudation occurring.

Forty percent dynamite normally contains about 15% wood pulp or other carbonaceous combustible material and has a density ,such' that the 1% x 8" cartridge weighs 227 grams, which is equivalent to 100 cartridges per fifty pounds. By using a lesser proportion,

for example, from 8 to 11% of sphagnum moss, we can produce a 40% dynamite having a density such that the 1 1 x 8" cartridge will weigh from 146 to 1Z5'grams,equivalent to 130 to 155 cartridges per fifty pounds. The following table shows the compositions and densities of two 40% dyn'a'mites containing sphagnum moss as the absorbent material compared with a normal 40% dynamite:

40% dynamite con- Normal taming sphagnum 40%;

moss dynamite Nitroglycerine 40% 40% 40% Sodium nitrate 51% 48% Wood pulp p 15% Sphagnum moss 8% 11% Chalk 1% 1% 1% Number of 1}; x 8' cartridges per 50 pounds 130 155 100 The strengths of these three explosive compounds are substantially the same.

Similarly, 40% ammonia dynamite normally has a density such that the 1 x 8" cartridge weighs 227 grams, which is equivalent to 100 cartridges per 50 pounds. By replacing part or all of the absorbent material heretofore used by sphagnum moss, we can produce a 40% ammonia dynamite oflesser density without in any way impairing its ballistic strength. The following table shows the composition and density of a normal 40% ammonia dynamite and a similar dynamite containing sphagnum moss:

Permissible. explosives containing sphagnum moss can be used to great advantage in coal mining where it is, in most cases, important to produce the maximum proportions of lump coal. Our novel compositions corresponding to this typeofpermissible explosive possess good strength, a low rate of detonation, low density which permits of a good distribution of the explosive charge in the bore hole and are sufiiciently sensitive to detonation that the explosive waves will be propagated through the whole charge. The gases produced op explosion are also sufficiently free from poisonous gas to insure the safety of the operators, These features are all particularly desirable in explosives such U y using sphagnum moss as the absorbent we are able to produce standard cartridges weighing from 116 to 120 grams, or thereabouts, which is approximately 180 to 196 cartridges per 50 pounds.

The followin is a typical example of a permissible exp osive composition containing sphagnum moss as the absorbent mater1al:

Nitroglycerine 9.5%

onium nitrate 78.0% Sphagnum moss 8.0% Bran 4.0% Chalk 0.5%

Number of 1% x 8" cartridges per 50 pounds 195.0

vary within wide limits without departingfrom our invention. It is further understood that moss may replace the commonl used absorbents only partially and to any esired positions may extent,- or to supplement such commonly used absorbents, whereby the density and other desirable characteristics. of theexplosive com.-

be varied extensively.

' We claim:

' 1. As an absorbent material for-a dynamite composition a moss.

2. As an absorbent material for a dynamite composition sphagnum moss.

3. The used moss as an absorbent material in a dynamite composition.

4. The use of sphagnum moss as an ab-,

sorbent material in a dynamite composition. 5. Azdynamite composition comprising a moss.

. 6. A dynamite composition comprising sphagnum moss.

7.- A dynamite composition comprising a 'normally liquid explosive component, an

and absorbent material comprising sphagnum moss.

9. A dynamite composition comprising a normally liquid explosive component comprising nitroglycerine, an oxygen carrier comprising sodium nitrate, and a carbonaceous combustible and absorbent material comprising a moss.

10. A dynamite composition comprising a normally liquid explosive component comprising nitroglycerine, an oxygen carrier comprising sodium nitrate, and a carbonaceous combustible and absorbent material comprising sphagnum moss. p

11. A dynamite composition comprising a liquid explosive com'ponent comprising nitroglycerine, an oxygen carrier comprising sodium nitrate and ammonium nitrate, and a carbonaceous combustible and absorbent material comprising sphagnum moss.

12. A dynamite. composition of the permissible explosive type, comprising a normally liquid explosive component, an oxygen cari'iercomprising alkali metal nitrate, and a carbonaceous combustible and absorbent material comprising sphagnum moss.

13. A dynamite composition of the gelatin dynamite type comprising a normally liquid exploslve component, a nitro-cellulose compound, an oxygen carrier, and a carbonaceous combustible and absorbent material comprising sphagnum moss.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

CHARLES OSCAR BLACK. WILLIAM ALLAN MOORE. 

